The imposing structure that rises on the central square is the ancient Rocca Castle, whose construction is believed to date back to around the year 1000. Its distinctive feature still showcases the four original architectural units, harmoniously combined: the Porta Marina tower, the Paradisi family residential palace, the Church of S. Pietro with its four spires, and the Rocca Theater, now a belvedere overlooking the underlying Piazza Sisto V and the harmonious mass of the Cathedral of S.M. Assunta. The Libro d’Oro of the City of Montalto traces the noble Palazzo Paradisi to its founder, Gianfrancesco Paradisi, who was incorporated into the Montaltese patriciate and included in the Municipal Statutes of 1586. In fact, the Paradisi family is documented in Montalto since time immemorial: in 1461, the Libri di Introito ed Esito already mention a certain Menicuccio (Domenico) Paradisi. The tempera decorations and stuccoes on the noble floor, along the staircase, and on the upper floor date to the 19th century.

With Countess Fanny, the family line died out, and the entire building, left in total neglect, was purchased by the Municipality in 1990 to prevent inevitable decay and progressive looting. Following the consolidation work after the 1997 earthquake, the palace has hosted recreational and community association spaces, exhibition areas, and cultural events. Today, the noble floor hosts temporary exhibitions and artistic residencies, and the building also temporarily houses a nursery, a kindergarten, a play center, and a music school.

Thanks to the Metroborgo project, the palace is being prepared to become a new cultural and artistic hub for Montalto and the surrounding areas. Inside, there will be spaces for temporary exhibitions, coworking areas, community-oriented facilities managed by associations, and a new venue for musical activities with a recording studio. “Paradiso Cultura,” both a tourist attraction and a powerful social activator, will offer services to visitors and residents alike, transforming into a space for cultural exchange and mutual enrichment.